Thank you for your reviews. They encourage me. Lightraygirl, yours really brightened my day! FrozenFever123, that is a good idea. We'll see what happens.
Just so you readers know, this story will be showing more of Buzz and Jessie.
The adrenaline rush is over and they can head home! But now the hard part begins. I've been waiting and waiting to share this chapter. It's on the depressing side, but I like the emphasis the toys live out on devotion and friendship. A little Buzz/Jessie.
"...Let go...of me! Let…go! P-pl...please!..H-he...help! Woody...Buzz...help!" Mitsy was saying to herself between gasps for air. Her eyes were squeezed shut and she thought that the huge monster was still making her gag. When he'd released her, she'd gone sailing through the air 'til she hit a wall and collapsed down to the hard floor. She'd instantly passed out, partly from fright, and partly from the sudden impact of the ground she'd hit. Suddenly, she opened her eyes, then squinted from the bright lights. She lay on the floor, just panting, welcoming the air back. Her eyes were widely fixated on the ceiling with all the florescent lights. A moment ago, everything had been black. "W-where am I?" She asked nobody. Then every horrible nightmare that had happened tonight swam back to her mind, and she just lay there, whimpering. Where were her friends? She didn't see anyone. Were Woody and the others...dead too? Were they still fighting? She shivered with dread. She didn't even know if there were other crooks lurking nearby, if she was safe where she was.
So Mitsy slowly sat up and feeling incredibly lonely, crawled away, clutching and rubbing her throat and sighing sadly. But one of her faithful friends had seen her, and rushed down to try and comfort her.
"Let's go, guys." Potato Head said. "Bonnie's room, here we come!"
"Those were awesome moves you did, Rex." Trixie smiled.
"I gotta hand it to ya, Kellyzilla," Potato Head remarked. "I have to admit, your dancing lessons were a hit!"
"Yeah. Thanks, bud. You were a very big help." Woody smiled, nudging Rex on the shoulder.
"Chalk up another one for the good guys," Buzz smiled, giving his friends high-five's. "The forces of evil have once again been squandered! Good work, everyone! Excellent job. Let's go home."
"Uh, guys? Hey, wait a minute." Rex said hesitantly, stopping in his tracks.
"What is it?" Woody asked, turning his head to face him.
"Uhm, where's Mitsy? Where's Slink?"
"Oh! Yeah. Where are they?" Woody said. Then they heard a distant whistle from somewhere in the huge room.
"Over here, y'all!" Slinky called.
"I think Slinky found her." Jessie said. The whole gang ran around the corner, up a wheeled-dolly, and onto a desk. Then, from their vantage point, they found her. Everybody's faces dropped sadly. Mitsy was tightly huddled up in the corner of the wall, her face buried in her arms wrapped around herself on top of her knees. "Oh. Poor Mitsy," Jessie sighed, her hands raised up to her mouth, her heart churning at the sight of her dear friend's pain.
"She lost her friend...again." Trixie said lowly, shaking her head.
Oh, Woody thought to himself. I can't stand it! Poor darling. She'd just gotten him back, and now he's gone! I'm so sorry this happened. Why? After all that happened tonight, now this? It isn't right! It's not fair! The cowboy's strong heart was quivering inside with longing for his princess friend whom over the years he'd come to think of and treat like a daughter, whom he would do his best to comfort in any possible way he could!
Jessie hung her head, staring sadly down at the floor."Come on, Jessie. She needs us," Buzz said soberly, taking his cowgirl's hand. "Uh, I think some of you should stay back up here." He turned to the other toys.
"Buzz is right," Woody agreed quietly. "We don't need everybody crowding in." Buzz helped Jessie down onto the desk chair, then to the floor. Woody was about to follow them when an unexpected voice stopped him.
"Do you know how I feel right about now?" Potato Head asked. Woody turned and stared at him, bewildered.
"No." Trixie answered quietly.
"Like a horrid, suspicious-minded, mistrustful cynic." Potato Head sighed. Woody couldn't help managing a weak grin. Then he went to join his other friends.
Just like so many other times through the past years, faithful old Slinky was already there. He hung his droopy head and cleared his throat. "Mitsy, I...I know you're sad right now, and...and I'm terribly sorry," he said quietly. "But I just want you to know that I'm right here for you."
"Th...thank you, Slinky," Mitsy whispered, barely audible and without lifting her head up. "Y-you're such a g-good f-friend, you always have b-been. You're always t-there. I know I c-can always c-count on y-you." Slinky had to strain his ears to hear her muffled, quiet voice. She barely raised her head, and her chin rested on her arms. Slinky winced when he saw the heavy hurt and longing in her eyes and nervously shuffled his paws. He stood where he was, unsure of what to do but not wanting to leave.
Jessie knelt down beside her friend. "Mitsy?" She asked timidly. The princess didn't move. Jessie placed her hand on her shoulder. "Mitsy, I'm so sorry about Jack!" Mitsy jumped a little at the mention of his name. "That's awful. And I was wrong to doubt him. What he did was one of the most love-worthy things I've ever seen!"
Mitsy didn't answer or look at their faces. She just remained huddled against the wall, her eyes downcast. Her body language was extremely tense right now. Buzz slowly spoke up. "He was very courageous. Never once gave a thought to himself. He belonged with the best. Truly gallant."
"Yes," Jessie agreed. "He was a toy of integrity and honor. Speaking for myself, I'm the better for having known him."
"So am I! It's a real shame that we didn't meet a long time ago."
Mitsy gritted her teeth and leaned her head back up against the wall, a faraway, grief-filled expression on her face. Jessie felt hurt and shut out. Mitsy acted like their words hadn't even reached her ears. Ordinarily, she would've been hanging onto Jessie's hand for comfort, squeezing it in her sorrow. But no. She seemed to not even be acknowledging Buzz and Jessie's presence! Jessie's hand dropped to her side in defeat, and Buzz who was standing behind her, put his strong one on her shoulder. She reached her other hand up and clasped it over her protective husband's. Jessie felt horrible. Her husband's touch-his presence more than anything- was a tremendous support to her right now.
Mitsy had heard their words, and she knew that Buzz and Jessie truly meant them, but she was so choked up that she couldn't really answer, or even bring herself to directly face them either. She was truly grateful for their friendship, but at this moment she felt a lingering hurt that would not go away: the earlier doubts they'd had about Jack. They were now all coming back to her, still fresh in her mind. She couldn't push them away. Now, Buzz, granted that he hadn't openly said anything against Jack, but he also had not exactly spoken up in the dog's defense either. There was only one toy who had told Mitsy to her face that he believed her, -Slinky didn't need to. He'd already shown it.- that he knew Jack was the toy of honor she'd always said. And right now in her greatest moment of need, he was the one she really wanted to see more than anyone. Mitsy finally looked into Jessie's face. "W...where's Woody?" She asked shakily.
"Here I am, Little Bit," Woody said softly as he appeared. "I'm right here. It's gonna be okay." Mitsy very slowly raised her head. She winced when she looked into that dearly familiar, kind face of his. The grieving sadness in her eyes just about broke his heart. Her face was filled with hopeless longing. Oh, how he would've given anything in the world to have been able to prevent this trouble! He knelt down in front of her. "I'm really sorry about Jack." He said. Mitsy squeezed her eyes shut at the sound of Jack's name, and gripped her arms even tighter. Woody reached a hand out and rubbed her shoulder gently. She just shook her head.
"Jack was a good dog. He was a real hero if ever I saw one!" Buzz said passionately.
"Thank you, Buzz," Mitsy said quietly, still keeping her eyes down, avoiding his. "Th...those are high words coming from you. He was my friend. And now he's gone...forever! And it's all my fault!" Her voice was cracking.
"What? Mitsy, don't say that!" Woody protested. "It isn't true at all!"
"No, it isn't!" Jessie agreed. "Woody's right."
"If it wasn't for me he would still be alive!" Mitsy cried out. "There was trouble, and he threw himself in danger so I wouldn't get hurt. And I'll never see him again! Ever!" She raised a clenched fist to her mouth, whimpering.
"Spike is the one who killed Jack, not you!" Jessie said firmly, but not harshly. Mitsy bit her lip.
"Mitsy, you can't honestly believe that!" Buzz declared seriously. "There's no reason in the world for you to even think that it was your fault. It wasn't."
"Jessie's right, Mitsy. It was Spike, not you. Look, Jack did what anyone caring would do if they saw a friend in trouble." Woody added. "That's what made him who he is...er, was." Mitsy nodded her head dejectedly. "And I'm really glad that we didn't lose you, Little Bit! I don't know what we would've done if that had happened!" Woody squeezed her trembling hand. She kept her eyes down.
"Yes, I'm glad too!" Jessie exclaimed.
"Th-thanks to J..." Mitsy gulped hard, trying to keep back the choking sobs. "It...it didn't h-happen." She said lowly.
"Yes, thanks to Jack," Jessie said wistfully.
"We're all still together," Buzz spoke up. "And I'm right here for you, Mitsy. I promise."
"So am I!" Jessie cried, almost pleadingly.
"Me too," Slinky added.
"We all are, Mitsy. And we always will be." Woody said kindly, smiling.
Mitsy's lips quivered and she started shaking. Her cotton stomach inside was twisted in a suffocating knot. Here she was surrounded by love and family, but all the false accusations that had been uttered against Jack were overwhelming her right now, eating her heart out. She could still hear them, they were echoing in her head over and over, like a whip. Every time one of those attacking words were said in her memory, she could see that giant crate crash right on top of Jack, her Jack! Her dog, her friend! This grinding pain and heavy loss was too heavy to bear! There was no way in the world this gagging weight was going to release her (or so she felt at the moment). It seemed just impossible! Unable to hold it in any longer, she gulped hard and broke out in convulsing sobs and covered her face with her hands.
"Aw, come here." Woody said tenderly with open arms. He pulled her close to himself and she threw her arms around his neck. Jessie glanced up painstakingly at Buzz, and all he could do was gaze into her eyes with equal pity. They'd never dealt with something like this before, and he felt so clueless as to how to help. Woody held Mitsy tight as she wailed heavily, and he sadly looked up helplessly at Buzz and Jessie for support. His face was constricted with grief, and his eyes were so pained as he cradled the princess as her heartbreak spilled out and echoed in the enormous room. Her terrible cries were painful to her friends' ears.
Jessie grew tense and her shoulders became rigid. She softly, silently wept herself and raised her hand to her mouth. "I think it's time to go home," Buzz finally said solemnly. He took Jessie's hand and helped her up. She clasped his hand close to her chest, and he put his other arm around her shoulder.
"You guys go ahead. I'll be there in a minute." Woody said, nodding his head. Buzz and Jessie slowly walked away to lead the other toys to the exit. However, they kept looking back to see if Woody was following yet. "Come on, Little Bit. We're going home!" Woody said in a determined voice, and he stood up and lifted her feet off the ground. He carried Mitsy away in his arms bridal-style, and tried to catch up with the others. He dismally glanced back in the direction of the Brick. Oh, he hated to leave Jack, the legendary but true to life hero behind, but Woody knew that the last thing Mitsy needed right now was to see Jack's torn, battered, smashed, ripped to shreds stuffed body, what was left of him. Besides, they really needed to get back to Jamie's apartment before Bonnie returned to go home. Woody heaved the limp, sad doll in his arms a little, as she'd actually started to feel a bit heavier before he redirected his focus back to Buzz and Jessie who were at the EXIT door, waiting for him.
"Oh, Buzz!" Jessie whispered in a quaking voice. She hung her head close to his face and her eyes were filled with hurt. "This is...horrible! I...I...it's all so...horrible." Her lips quivered. Buzz firmly gripped her shoulders, and affectionately stroked her hair.
"You're right," Buzz groaned in a low voice. He miserably glanced at the other toys, Trixie, Rex, and Potato Head who were standing close by, all with long faces. Then he saw a familiar, brown, cowboy hat swaying up and down as Woody came into view, safely carrying the devastated princess in his arms. Buzz grimaced at the sight, feeling just awful about this whole mess, but then his sense of duty took over and he lifted his head up. "Let's go, everyone," he said in a strong tone and turned to open the door. Jessie glanced at her brother and Mitsy, and sadly, subconsciously pulled on her braid.
Woody was still coming toward them, taking slow, heavy steps. Mitsy sadly gazed up at him. "Woody?" She cried, her face brimming with heartbreak.
"Yes, honey?" Woody asked tenderly, looking down into her aching blue eyes.
"Oh, Woody! I want to die too!" She wailed. "I wish I was dead!" Then she buried her face back into his shoulder and clutched his vest, weeping. Woody looked up helplessly at the ceiling. His brows furrowed in sympathy and sadness. After all they'd been through together over the years, at this moment he felt so at a loss of what to do or say. How was he supposed to help her through this?
"I know, Mitsy." Was all he could say, nodding his head. "I know." Slinky walked right at the cowboy's heels.
"You've got a friend in me, You've got a friend in me; When the road looks rough ahead, and you're miles and miles from your nice, warm bed, You just remember what your old pal said. Boy, you've got a friend in me; You've got a friend in me."-Randy Newman